Chapter Two

The door leading upstairs to the roof was blocked by one of the other boys who had lived in the tower, Gizmo. He absolutely hated Robin with every gut. He smiled and cackled a little as Robin approached him.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Gizmo said with a sneer, "I've heard you were summoned to Mammoth's but I had no idea you were going unarmed."

Robin raised one eyebrow, "Un...armed?"

"I mean you haven't got yourself a weapon, you stinkin' loser," Gizmo spat at Robin's feet, barely missing his shoe.

"I don't need weapons."

He laughed, "Right...you're going to Mammoth's lair, it's most likely you're gonna fight something for him. How are you gonna fight if all you have is your two hands?" Robin shrugged, "What you need is one of these," he patted his belt, which was equipped with various gadgets.

"But I don't have a Utility Belt."

"Well then you're not going to see Mammoth, snot muncher!" Robin bit his lip in anger, "Go find yourself a belt and a cape...and then maybe I'll let you through."

Robin nodded, finding it best to not argue with Gizmo, knowing he was not only the strongest, but also the boss of the Titans Tower. He turned down the hallway, turning to Larry.

"Mine as well give up," he said once Gizmo was out of earshot.

"Give up?" Larry said, "Dude, all you need to find is a belt and cape, it's that easy."

"You don't understand," Robin sat down on the floor, his back against the wall, "Utility Belts are rare, only a few people can find them, if not spend a fortune to buy one."

"Well, at least the cape..."

"There's no point, I need a strong cape, one that would hold. A normal cape would fly up in flames with one spark."

A door opened and the cloaked Raven stepped out, "Robin...why are you here and not up where Mammoth is?"

Robin looked up at his friend, "Gizmo won't let me through, he told me I needed some things first, which are impossible to get."

Raven pulled on Robin's arm, indicating him to stand up. She lead him into her room and closed the door behind them, "How are you so sure these things are impossible to get?"

He sat down on a chair, while Raven took her seat at her bed, "There's no way I can get a Utility Belt and a cape. And you know that."

Raven smiled a little, "Why didn't you say you needed a Utility Belt? I just happened to have one."

Robin's eyes went wide, "What?"

She got up from the bed and walked over to a small trunk. She lifted a long, blue belt from it and held it up for him to see, "Gizmo gave it to me for my birthday, don't know why either...I have no use for it. It used to be full of weapons but it's empty now, I sold everything to the shop...which reminds me."

"What?"

"The shop sells capes now, Titan Capes. You can buy one, how much money you have?"

Robin shrugged, "On me...about forty...fifty dollars."

She nodded, "Good, then I'm sure you'll have enough. The capes aren't the best, but they'll be strong enough...it's not like you're gonna leave Titans Tower and go someplace else."

He laughed, "That's true," he walked over to Raven and took the Utility Belt, "Thanks, Rae. I owe you big time," he fiddled getting on the belt.

"Let me help you with that," Raven said, walking behind Robin, grabbing both ends of the belt. She snapped it together then turned it so the buckle was to his front side. Then she stepped back, "You look like a true Teen Titan now."

Robin smiled, "Thanks again, now to go to the store."

"I'll come with you, there's nothing much to do here anyway," she walked with Robin to the small shop down the hall and up the second staircase. There were others there, most of them just hanging out and talking. Robin walked up to the desk.

"How much for a cape?" he asked the older kid behind the desk.

"Titan Cape?" the boy said in a slight accent. Robin nodded and the boy shrugged, "We don't have exact prices, so I'll make it forty dollars, not on discount."

Robin reached into his pocket and counted out forty dollars, "I'll take one," he handed the boy some money.

"One moment, please," the boy reached behind him to the shelves of many capes and other weapons. He pulled out a long, folded cape the color yellow and then walked back, handing it to Robin, "Last one here, everyone wants one these days."

Robin nodded and took the cape, walking back to Raven, "Thank you."

Raven took the cape from Robin and helped him tie it on, "It looks nice on you," she said, "Now go to Mammoth, hurry."

Starfire peeked into the large courtyard window, watching Slade with her eyes narrowing. She was sure that he resembled the dark clouds in her dream, positively sure.

A hand was placed on her shoulder, "Spying on your father again, are you?" she heard Jinx's voice ring through her ears. Princess Starfire smiled and turned to Jinx.

"I was actually spying on the other man, Slade," she said.

"Oh...why?"

She bit her lip, trying to keep it secret to herself, but found it hard and she blurt it all out in one breath, "I think he's the dark clouds in my dream."

Jinx kneeled down, concerned, "You think, or are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Starfire corrected herself, "I can feel his evil intensions."

Jinx nodded, "Then stay away from him, if you're sure, then he's bound to be someone mad."

Starfire nodded, "Of course."

Gizmo crossed his arms, seeing Robin and Larry approach him again, "I thought I told you two crud muffins that you aren't going up to see Mammoth unless you have a..." he got a closer look at Robin and saw he had both a cape and Utility Belt on, "Crud! How were you able to get your hands on those...and so fast?"

"Well, we bought the cape," Robin said, "And Raven..."

Gizmo's eyes went wide, "You stole Raven's belt! I gave that specially to her for her birthday."

"She gave it to me," Robin corrected, "Besides...she really didn't like it, she had no use for it."

Gizmo cursed a little under his breath, "You have no weapons in your belt, anyway. So I can't let you go."

Robin crossed his arms, finding it was his turn to say something cruddy, "You never said it had to have weapons...you just said get a belt, and I got one."

Gizmo growled a little, "You mucus munching, pimple popping, gunk ball...I won't let you go."

Robin slouched in defeat, but Larry took no mind and stood in front of Robin, facing Gizmo, "Listen, Bibmo..."

"It's Gizmo."

"Whatever," Larry rolled his eyes, "I happened to be a very good friend of Mammoth. If you don't let Robin and I through right now...I'll be happy to have a talk with him and tell him how you took matters too far."

Gizmo shuddered a little, then moved a little out of the way, "Approved Access...you can go, Robin...err...and Larry."